Court Strikes Out Kanu’s Rights Appeal

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by Nnamdi Kanu, the convicted leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), ruling that the case lacked merit and had become purely academic. The decision follows Kanu’s recent conviction for terrorism offenses.

The judgment, delivered on Friday by a three-member panel of the appellate court, found that Kanu’s claims were no longer feasible. Kanu had alleged that his fundamental rights, including the right to human dignity, quality health care, and religion, were being breached by his continued detention at the Department of State Services (DSS) facility.

Justice Boloukuromo Moses Ugo, who delivered the lead judgment, stated that the substance of the case was rendered academic by new developments. Kanu’s lawyer, Maxwell Opara, confirmed during proceedings that his client was now being held at Sokoto prison following his conviction and sentence.

Justice Ugo held that since Kanu was now in Sokoto prison, the court could no longer order his relocation to Kuje prison, which had been the specific relief sought from DSS custody.

The judgment further noted that Kanu had previously expressed a preference for prison custody over DSS detention. Therefore, the court could not grant his original prayers since he has been convicted and remanded in the type of facility he had desired.

The judgment was issued on Kanu’s appeal against a July 3 ruling by Justice Taiwo Taiwo (now retired) of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Justice Taiwo had initially dismissed Kanu’s fundamental rights enforcement suit because he failed to sufficiently prove his case.

The original respondents listed in the appeal were the Director General of the DSS, the DSS itself, and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).